Friday, March 28, 2008

Intolerant of Intolerance

I've had a couple weeks to ruminate over Obama's now famous "Philadelphia" speech. I was home sick that day and saw it live. I knew when I was watching it that it was special, and over the last couple weeks it's been on my mind on and off every day.

It's sad, but true: There is a racial divide in this country. We all know it's there, our society dances around it. The time for pussyfooting around it has finally past. Obama may have had to respond to the Rev. Wright situation, but the speech he gave finally puts it out there. The time for honest dialogue has arrived. Based on the several opinions in various papers I've read over the last two weeks - I'd say the dialogue has started.

I'll leave you with my thoughts about racism. It's our jobs as parents to teach our children that differences skin color, facial features, etc, do not matter. It's what's inside a person, the quality of their character, that truly matters. But, I think my thoughts are best summed up by a song from one of my favorite musicals - South Pacific:

You've got to be taughtTo hate and fear,You've got to be taughtFrom year to year,It's got to be drummedIn your dear little earYou've got to be carefully taught.You've got to be taught to be afraidOf people whose eyes are oddly made,And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,You've got to be carefully taught.You've got to be taught before it's too late,Before you are six or seven or eight,To hate all the people your relatives hate,You've got to be carefully taught!

4 comments:

Thank you for reminding me about that song - it's the truth, isn't it? I hope that the conversation begins in earnest. I'd like to be a part of it, because I know that I have so much to learn. Thank goodness for change!

I am glad that you are feeling better.I really love your new banner.Ahna

I apologize that this comment isn't directly related to the subject of this post, although I felt the title was aptly fitting! I have just read the new comments on Angela's blog and felt overwhelmingly compelled (although she did address it in a follow up comment) to let you know that I did NOT delete her posts! Far from it. She did that herself, and I was quite surprised and confused by that action, as well. Like you expressed (thinking I had done it), I, too, felt the action showed a desire to hide something.

In any case, I do want to tell you that I absolutely love how you described your spirituality. Without expressing it in that way, my feelings are virtually identical based on the snippet you shared. I agree that Christ was a wonderful human with a meaningful message, although I do not believe that he rose from the dead, etc.

In the post I wrote this morning (but haven't published just yet) I mentioned the irony in how I feel like I am more able to live a life which is in line of what Christ would want AFTER removing my Christian label and stepping away from organized religion. I feel that people who "abandon" Christianity are very misunderstood. It isn't a matter of losing my way, or not wanting to be a good person. It is about discovering what I believe to be a more tolerant and healthier way of living.

I appreciate you reading my blog. Feel free to comment. I assure you, your thoughts are quite welcome and neither the other hounds nor I will come after you ;) You really ought consider blogging some of your experiences with your spirituality. I think a lot could be learned from it!

Your comments are most welcome anywhere on my blog - thanks for visiting. Yes, i think we probably have much in common. And, I did see Angela's post on your blog about who removed what and I was relieved it was she that removed the posts and not you.

You've been quite a catalyst in my (and probably many others') mind about spirituality and beliefs. Up to this point it's been something fairly private that I've really only shared with those closest to me. Perhaps it's time to take a lesson from the evangelists and become more vocal? Who knows. I'll give it more thought and perhaps blog about it someday if I can get up the courage you have!